TOUCH SENSITIVE DEVICE, SYSTEM and METHOD THEREOF

ABSTRACT

A touch sensitive detecting method, applicable to a touch panel or screen, comprises: setting a sensing electrode to floating; after the sensing electrode is set to floating, setting at least one non-measuring sensing electrode to a sensing high voltage; measuring the voltage of the sensing electrode; setting the sensing electrode to a ground voltage and stopping measurement; and determining whether an externally conducted object is approximating or touching the touch panel or screen nearby the sensing electrode by comparing a difference between a threshold voltage and the measured voltage of the sensing electrode.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of priority to Taiwan patentapplication Ser. No. 103128061 entitled “TOUCH SENSITIVE DEVICE, SYSTEMand METHOD THEREOF”, filed, Aug. 15, 2014, which is also incorporatedherein by reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention pertains to a touch panel technology, and moreparticularly pertains to a touch sensitive panel technology for reducingconductive liquid mistaken for touch point.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

A touch panel or screen is one of the major interfaces between human andmachine in modern mobile device. A mobile device may be used outdoor orin damp place, so it may be touched with water or other conductiveliquid on the touch panel or screen. Random size and shape of theconductive liquid causes problematic uncertainties when detecting thereal touches.

In the conventional mutual capacitance touch panel technology, part ofcharges from the driving voltage will be taken away when externalconductive object such as a finger or a stylus approximates or touchesthe touch panel or screen. It causes the measured voltage on the sensingelectrodes drop. However, the random sized and shaped conductive liquiddoes not connect to the ground. In some cases, the conductive liquidcauses the measured voltage on the sensing electrode to rise, which isdifferent from effects caused by a finger. In another cases, theconductive liquid causes the measured voltage on the sensing electrodedrop, which can be mistaken to be an external conductive object.

Above all, a touch sensitive method and device for distinguishing theconductive liquid from the external conductive object is needed.

SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

The present invention provides a touch sensitive detecting method, whichis applicable to a touch panel or screen. The touch sensitive detectingmethod includes steps of: setting a sensing electrode to floating; afterthe sensing electrode is set to floating, setting at least onenon-measuring sensing electrode to a sensing high voltage; measuring thevoltage of the sensing electrode; setting the sensing electrode to aground voltage and stopping measurement; and determining whether anexternally conducted object is approximating or touching the touch panelor screen nearby the sensing electrode by comparing a difference betweena threshold voltage and the measured voltage of the sensing electrode.

In one embodiment, the present invention provides a touch sensitivedevice, which is applicable to a touch panel or screen, and the touchsensitive device is configured to execute said touch sensitive detectingmethod.

In another embodiment, the present invention provides a touch sensitivesystem including a touch panel or screen and the touch sensitive device.The touch sensitive device is configured to execute said touch sensitivedetecting method.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a diagram of a touch sensitive system 100 according to thepresent invention.

FIG. 2 is a waveform diagram of the detected conductive liquid accordingto an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a waveform diagram of the detected conductive liquid accordingto another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a waveform diagram of the detected conductive liquid accordingto another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a waveform diagram of the detected conductive liquid accordingto another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a flow chart of a touch sensitive method according to anembodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a flow chart of a touch sensitive method according to anotherembodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description andthe following detailed description are exemplary and explanatory onlyand are not restrictive of the invention, as claimed. It should be notedthat, as used in the specification and the appended claims, the singularforms “a”, “an” and “the” include plural referents unless the contextclearly dictates otherwise. It should be noted that the figures aremerely for convenience of explanation and the proportional relationshipis not necessarily correct.

Please refer to FIG. 1, which is a diagram of a touch sensitive system100 according to the present invention. The touch sensitive system 100at least includes a touch panel or screen 110 and a processing module120. The touch panel or screen 110 includes a plurality of drivingelectrodes and a plurality of sensing electrodes thereon. The processingmodule 120 is electrically connected to the driving electrodes by aplurality of driving electrical wires 132, and is electrically connectedto the sensing electrodes by a plurality of sensing electrical wires134. A person of ordinary skill in the art would recognize that theconnection relationship between the driving electrode and the drivingelectrical wire 132 may be one to one, or many to one. Similarly, theconnection relationship between the sensing electrode and the sensingelectrical wire 134 may be one to one, or many to one. The presentinvention is not restricted made thereto.

In some embodiments, the touch panel or screen 110 further includes aplurality of dummy pads or dummy traces. In one embodiment, the dummypads are electrically connected to the processing module 120 by onedummy electrical wire 136. In another embodiment, the dummy pads aredivided into many areas or sections, and the areas or sections of thedummy pads are electrically connected to the processing module 120 by aplurality of dummy electrical wire 136 respectively.

A person of ordinary skill in the art would recognize that there aremany configurations of the driving electrodes, the sensing electrodesand the dummy pads disposed on the touch panel or screen 110, and thepresent invention is not to be restricted thereto. For example, FIGS. 2Ato 3D of Taiwan patent No.1378377 entitled “CAPACITIVE TOUCH PANEL ANDMANUFACTURING METHOD THEREOF”, applied by AU Optronics Corp., which arefor reference.

Refer to FIG. 2, which is a waveform diagram of the detected conductiveliquid according to an embodiment of the present invention. Thehorizontal axes represent the time, and the vertical axes respectivelyrepresent voltages of one of the sensing electrodes, one of the drivingelectrodes, the dummy pad, and non-measuring sensing electrode. Thereare two time points on the horizontal axis. One time point is when thesensing electrode set by the processing module 120 to floating, and theother time point is when the sensing electrode set by the processingmodule 120 to the ground voltage. It should be noted that therelationship between the voltage and the time as shown in FIG. 2 ismerely for convenience of explanation and the proportional relationshipis not necessarily correct.

As shown in FIG. 2, before detecting the conductive liquid on anintersection point of the sensing electrode and the driving electrode,the voltage of the dummy pad nearby the intersection point is risen to adummy high voltage, which is defined as a voltage higher than the groundvoltage. Next, the sensing electrode is set to floating. Then, thevoltage of the driving electrode is risen to a driving voltage, and thevoltage of the dummy pad is fallen. It is noted that the sequentialsteps of rising the voltage of the driving electrode and falling thevoltage of the dummy pad are not to be restricted thereto. After aperiod of time until the charges between the electrodes or pads arebalanced, start converting the voltage, i.e. measuring the sensingelectrode. After the measurement is over, the voltage of the drivingelectrode is fallen to the ground voltage. By comparing a differencebetween a threshold voltage and the measured voltage of the sensingelectrode, whether an externally conducted object is approximating ortouching the touch panel or screen nearby the sensing electrode can bedetermined. As the background mentioned, an external conductive objectsuch as finger approximating or touching the touch panel or screenusually causes the voltage of the sensing electrodes to fall to theafore-said threshold voltage. The measured voltage of the sensingelectrode may fall or rise when conductive liquid is approximating ortouching the touch panel or screen; however, the measured voltage of thesensing electrode falls less if the conductive liquid causes themeasured voltage drop. Therefore, we can determine that there is anexternally conducted object approximating or touching the touch panel orscreen nearby the sensing electrode when the measured voltage of thesensing electrode is lower than or equal to the threshold voltage;otherwise, there could be conductive liquid approximating or touchingthe touch panel or screen.

In one embodiment, the driving voltage risen by the driving electrodesis higher than the dummy high voltage risen by the dummy pad. In anotherembodiment, the voltage of the dummy pad can be fallen to the groundvoltage.

Refer to FIG. 3, which is a waveform diagram of the detected conductiveliquid according to another embodiment of the present invention.Compared the embodiment in FIG. 3 to that in FIG. 2, the non-measuringsensing electrode is further driven so the voltage change of thenon-measuring sensing electrode is shown as FIG. 3. In one embodiment,the non-measuring sensing electrode may be a single electrode adjacentto one side of the sensing electrode for being measured, or twoelectrodes respectively adjacent to two sides of the sensing electrode.In another embodiment, the non-measuring sensing electrode may be aplurality of electrodes nearby the sensing electrode for being measured.

As shown in FIG. 3, after the voltage of the driving electrode is risento the driving voltage, the voltage of the non-measuring sensingelectrode is also risen to a sensing high voltage, which is defined as avoltage higher than the ground voltage, until the measurement is over.By comparing a difference between a threshold voltage and the measuredvoltage of the sensing electrode, whether an externally conducted objectis approximating or touching the touch panel or screen nearby thesensing electrode can be determined. As the background mentioned, anexternal conductive object such as a finger approximating or touchingthe touch panel or screen usually causes the voltage of the sensingelectrodes to fall to the afore-said threshold voltage. The measuredvoltage of the sensing electrode may fall or rise when conductive liquidis approximating or touching the touch panel or screen; however, themeasured voltage of the sensing electrode falls less if the conductiveliquid causes the measured voltage drop. Therefore, we can determinethere is an externally conducted object approximating or touching thetouch panel or screen nearby the sensing electrode when the measuredvoltage of the sensing electrode is lower than or equal to the thresholdvoltage; otherwise, there could be conductive liquid approximating ortouching the touch panel or screen.

In one embodiment, the driving voltage risen by the driving electrodesis higher than the sensing high voltage risen by the non-measuringsensing electrode. In another embodiment, the dummy high voltage risenby the dummy pad is equal to the sensing high voltage risen by thenon-measuring sensing electrode. In another embodiment, the dummy highvoltage set by the dummy pad is higher than the sensing high voltage setby the non-measuring sensing electrode, and the present invention is notto be restricted thereto.

Refer to FIG. 4, which is a waveform diagram of the detected conductiveliquid according to another embodiment of the present invention. Beforethe sensing electrode is set to floating, the voltage of the dummy padcan be set to a ground voltage, or a voltage lower than a sensing highvoltage set later by the non-measuring sensing electrodes. After thesensing electrode is set to floating, the non-measuring sensingelectrode is set to the fixed sensing high voltage until the measurementis over. By comparing a difference between a threshold voltage and themeasured voltage of the sensing electrode, whether an externallyconducted object is approximating or touching the touch panel or screennearby the sensing electrode can be determined. As the backgroundmentioned, an external conductive object such as a finger approximatingor touching the touch panel or screen usually causes the voltage of thesensing electrodes to fall to the afore-said threshold voltage. Themeasured voltage of the sensing electrode may fall or rise whenconductive liquid is approximating or touching the touch panel orscreen; however, the measured voltage of the sensing electrode fallsless if the conductive liquid causes the measured voltage drop.Therefore, we can determine there is an externally conducted objectapproximating or touching the touch panel or screen nearby the sensingelectrode when the measured voltage of the sensing electrode is lowerthan or equal to the threshold voltage; otherwise, there could beconductive liquid approximating or touching the touch panel or screen.

Refer to FIG. 5, which is a waveform diagram of the detected conductiveliquid according to another embodiment of the present invention. Beforethe sensing electrode is set to floating, the voltage of the dummy padcan be set to a ground voltage, or a voltage lower than the sensing highvoltage set later by the driving electrode and the non-measuring sensingelectrodes. After the sensing electrode is set to floating, the drivingelectrode and the non-measuring sensing electrode are set to a fixedvoltage; for example, the non-measuring sensing electrode is set to thesensing high voltage, and the driving electrode is set to the drivingvoltage. Stay for a period of time. After the charges between theelectrodes or pads are balanced, start converting the voltage, i.e.measuring the sensing electrode, until the measurement is over. It isnoted that the sequential steps of setting the non-measuring sensingelectrode to the sensing high voltage and setting the driving electrodeto the driving voltage are not to be restricted thereto. Similarly, thevalues of the driving voltage and the sensing high voltage are notrestricted thereto. In one embodiment, the driving voltage risen by thedriving electrode is higher than the sensing high voltage risen by thenon-measuring sensing electrode.

By comparing a difference between a threshold voltage and the measuredvoltage of the sensing electrode, whether an externally conducted objectis approximating or touching the touch panel or screen nearby thesensing electrode can be determine. As the background mentioned, anexternal conductive object such as a finger approximating or touchingthe touch panel or screen usually causes the voltage of the sensingelectrodes to fall to the afore-said threshold voltage. The measuredvoltage of the sensing electrode may fall or rise when conductive liquidis approximating or touching the touch panel or screen; however, themeasured voltage of the sensing electrode falls less if the conductiveliquid causes the measured voltage drop. Therefore, we can determinethere is an externally conducted object approximating or touching thetouch panel or screen nearby the sensing electrode when the measuredvoltage of the sensing electrode is lower than or equal to the thresholdvoltage; otherwise, there could be conductive liquid approximating ortouching the touch panel or screen.

Please refer to FIG. 6, which is a flow chart of a touch sensitivemethod according to an embodiment of the present invention. The touchsensitive method is implemented in the touch sensitive system 100 by theprocessing module 120 as shown in FIG. 1. The embodiments in FIGS. 2 and3 are herein for reference. The steps of the touch sensitive method areincluded as follows.

Step 610: Setting at least one dummy pad to a dummy high voltage. In oneembodiment, the voltages of the driving electrode and the non-measuringsensing electrodes respectively are lower than the driving voltage andthe sensing high voltage.

Step 620: Setting a sensing electrode nearby the at least one dummy padto floating after setting the at least one dummy pad to the dummy highvoltage.

Step 630: Setting the at least one dummy pad to a ground voltage and adriving electrode to a driving voltage after the sensing electrode isset to floating. Wherein the dummy high voltage is higher than theground voltage.

Selective step 640: Setting at least one non-measuring sensing electrodeto a sensing high voltage after the sensing electrode is set tofloating.

Step 650: After a period of time, measuring the voltage of the sensingelectrode.

Step 660: Setting the sensing electrode to the ground voltage andstopping measurement.

Step 670: Determining whether an externally conducted object isapproximating or touching the touch panel or screen nearby the sensingelectrode by comparing a difference between a threshold voltage and themeasured voltage of the sensing electrode. Go to step 680 if themeasured voltage of the sensing electrode is lower than or equal to thethreshold voltage; if not, go to step 690.

Step 680: Determining there is an externally conducted objectapproximating or touching the touch panel or screen nearby the sensingelectrode.

Step 690: Determining there is conducted liquid touching the touch panelor screen nearby the sensing electrode.

Please refer to FIG. 7, which is a flow chart of a touch sensitivemethod according to another embodiment of the present invention. Thetouch sensitive method is implemented in the touch sensitive system 100by the processing module 120 as shown in FIG. 1. The embodiments inFIGS. 4 and 5 are herein for reference. The steps of the touch sensitivemethod are included as follows.

Step 710: Setting a sensing electrode to floating. In one embodiment,the voltage of the driving electrode is set to a voltage lower than thesensing high voltage and the driving voltage as shown in FIG. 4. Inanother embodiment, the voltage of the dummy pad nearby is set to avoltage lower than the sensing high voltage and the driving voltage asshown in FIG. 5.

Step 720: Setting at least one non-measuring sensing electrode to asensing high voltage after the sensing electrode is set to floating.

Selective step 730: Setting a driving electrode to a driving voltageafter the sensing electrode is set to floating.

Step 740: After a period of time, measuring the voltage of the sensingelectrode.

Step 750: Setting the sensing electrode to a ground voltage and stoppingmeasurement.

Step 760: Determining whether an externally conducted object isapproximating or touching the touch panel or screen nearby the sensingelectrode by comparing a difference between a threshold voltage and themeasured voltage of the sensing electrode. Go to step 770 if themeasured voltage of the sensing electrode is lower than or equal to thethreshold voltage; if not, go to step 780.

Step 770: Determining there is an externally conducted objectapproximating or touching the touch panel or screen nearby the sensingelectrode.

Step 780: Determining there is conducted liquid touching the touch panelor screen nearby the sensing electrode.

The above embodiments are only used to illustrate the principles of thepresent invention, and they should not be construed as to limit to thepresent invention in any way. The above embodiments may be modified bythose with ordinary skill in the art without departing from the scope ofthe present invention as defined in the following appended claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A touch sensitive detecting method, applicable to a touch panel or screen, comprising: setting a sensing electrode to floating; after the sensing electrode is set to floating, setting at least one non-measuring sensing electrode to a sensing high voltage; measuring the voltage of the sensing electrode; setting the sensing electrode to a ground voltage and stopping measurement; and determining whether an externally conducted object is approximating or touching the touch panel or screen nearby the sensing electrode by comparing a difference between a threshold voltage and the measured voltage of the sensing electrode.
 2. The method according to claim 1, further comprising: after the sensing electrode is set to floating, setting a driving electrode to a driving voltage.
 3. The method according to claim 2, wherein the driving voltage is higher than the dummy high voltage.
 4. The method according to claim 1, wherein determining the externally conducted object is approximating or touching the touch panel or screen nearby the sensing electrode if the measured voltage of the sensing electrode is lower than the threshold voltage.
 5. The method according to claim 1, wherein determining there is conducted liquid on the touch panel or screen nearby the sensing electrode if the measured voltage of the sensing electrode is higher than the threshold voltage.
 6. The method according to claim 2, further comprising: before the sensing electrode is set to floating, setting the driving electrode to a voltage lower than the sensing high voltage and the driving voltage.
 7. The method according to claim 2, further comprising: setting at least one dummy pad nearby the sensing electrode to a voltage lower than the sensing high voltage and the driving voltage.
 8. A touch sensitive device, applicable to a touch panel or screen, comprising: a sensing electrode; at least one non-measuring sensing electrode; and a processing module, electrically connected to the sensing electrode, the at least one non-measuring sensing electrode and the touch panel or screen; wherein the processing module sets the sensing electrode to floating; after the sensing electrode is set to floating, the processing module sets the at least one non-measuring sensing electrode to a sensing high voltage; the processing module measures the voltage of the sensing electrode; the processing module sets the sensing electrode to a ground voltage and stopping measurement; and the processing module determines whether an externally conducted object is approximating or touching the touch panel or screen nearby the sensing electrode by comparing a difference between a threshold voltage and the measured voltage of the sensing electrode.
 9. The device according to claim 8, wherein the processing module further sets a driving electrode to a driving voltage after the sensing electrode is set to floating.
 10. The device according to claim 9, wherein the driving voltage is higher than the dummy high voltage.
 11. The device according to claim 8, wherein the externally conducted object is determined approximating or touching the touch panel or screen nearby the sensing electrode if the measured voltage of the sensing electrode is lower than the threshold voltage.
 12. The device according to claim 8, wherein conducted liquid is determined on the touch panel or screen nearby the sensing electrode if the measured voltage of the sensing electrode is higher than the threshold voltage.
 13. The device according to claim 9, wherein the processing module further sets the driving electrode to a voltage lower than the sensing high voltage and the driving voltage before the sensing electrode is set to floating.
 14. The device according to claim 9, wherein the processing module further sets at least one dummy pad nearby the sensing electrode to a voltage lower than the sensing high voltage and the driving voltage.
 15. A touch sensitive system, comprising: a touch panel or screen; and, a processing module, electrically connected to the touch panel or screen; wherein the processing module sets a sensing electrode to floating; after the sensing electrode is set to floating, the processing module sets at least one non-measuring sensing electrode to a sensing high voltage; the processing module measures the voltage of the sensing electrode; the processing module sets the sensing electrode to a ground voltage and stopping measurement; and the processing module determines whether an externally conducted object is approximating or touching the touch panel or screen nearby the sensing electrode by comparing a difference between a threshold voltage and the measured voltage of the sensing electrode. 